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REPORT (2025/2138(INI))

On the annual report on the activities of the European Ombudsman in 2024

A-10-2026-0015

Committee on Petitions · Rapporteur: Bogdan Rzońca

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament approves the European Ombudsman's 2024 annual report and supports her work on transparency, accountability, and citizens' rights in EU administration. It calls on EU institutions to address shortcomings identified by the Ombudsman, including delays in chemical authorisations, lack of transparency in decision-making, and maladministration in recruitment.

Committee position. The Committee on Petitions proposes that Parliament approve the Ombudsman's 2024 annual report and adopt the attached resolution.

Key points

  1. Approves the Ombudsman's 2024 annual report and congratulates the new Ombudsman on her appointment.
  2. Calls on the Commission to respect deadlines for authorising dangerous chemicals, including PFAS, and to revise procedures for substances of very high concern.
  3. Urges the Commission to ensure transparency and participation in decision-making, including expert groups and the Regulatory Scrutiny Board.
  4. Calls on the Ombudsman to examine Commission funding of environmental NGOs that lobby, citing risks of conflicts of interest.
  5. Stresses the need for public access to documents, including legislative ones, and criticises Council and Commission refusals.
  6. Emphasises Frontex's role in border protection and fighting illegal immigration, while noting the need to respect fundamental rights.
  7. Regrets the Commission's refusal to grant access to documents on child sexual abuse legislation and stresses transparency's importance.
  8. Supports Ombudsman's proposals on AI accountability, urging human oversight and public consultations.
  9. Recommends the Ombudsman examine accessibility and representation of persons with disabilities in EU institutions.
  10. Calls on EPSO to remedy shortcomings in recruitment, including remote testing issues, and notes EPSO's corrective actions.

Who is affected

  • EU institutions, including the Commission, Council, and Frontex, must improve transparency and address maladministration.
  • EPSO must fix recruitment procedures and offer retests to affected candidates.
  • Environmental NGOs funded by the Commission may face scrutiny for lobbying activities.
  • Persons with disabilities may benefit from accelerated accessibility measures in EU institutions.

Figures and deadlines

  • 82 % acceptance rate of Ombudsman's proposals by EU institutions in 2024.

Legal basis: Article 10(3) TEU, Articles 15, 24(3), 228, 298(1) TFEU, Articles 11, 41, 42, 43 of the Charter